Mediawatch Thursday,June 07, 2007
By Blair's last chance
The pressure of world events, along with the matter-of fact approach taken by Germany under its chancellor, Angela Merkel, may explain why this year's summit of the Group of Eight industrialised countries seems to have arrived almost out of the blue. This does not mean, of course, that there has not been the usual advance argument and lobbying. It just means that we have been spared much of the public aggravation often generated by the preparatory small print.
All that ends today when the eight leaders gather at Heiligendamm. That this resort was once the preserve of the former East Germany's political elite, serves to highlight the vast changes that have taken place since these meetings were first instituted 32 years ago. But this year's summit also takes place at a time of unusual political transition. The new French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, will be making his debut on the international stage. President Bush has only 18 months remaining in office and his authority is already in decline, irrevocably damaged by Iraq and the loss of Congress to the Democrats. And, assuming that he does not override Russia's constitution, Vladimir Putin will have handed over to someone else by this time next year.
Heiligendamm, however, will also be where Tony Blair, now the doyen of the group, takes his leave from the international top table. He has been much criticised for the protracted timetable of his farewell and the self-indulgence of his world tour. There were other, more dignified, ways for him to have bowed out. But surely few would begrudge him this last chance to push for progress on the two causes that he has driven in the international arena almost from the start.
Mr Blair's commitment to tackling climate change and poverty in Africa has been among the most positive aspects of his tenure. He has been tireless in his advocacy of these causes, understanding that a co-ordinated international effort is imperative. To that extent, this year's summit agenda, in which climate change is the main theme and Africa also features prominently, owes much to the priorities set by Mr Blair at Gleneagles. Ms Merkel, as a former German environment minister, is eminently qualified to pick up the baton.
While there is broad agreement about aid for Africa -- even if too many have regrettably failed to honour their promises -- climate change is another matter. Here, Germany set an ambitious, but not unrealistic, programme based on undertakings that have generally been adopted in Europe. Yet, as the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, stressed yesterday, the talks are likely to be fraught. This is because, as so often, it is the leader of the richest and most energy-profligate country who is still to be convinced.
There were positive and negative signals from Washington last week when President Bush specifically addressed climate change. He appeared to accept that there should be a "new global framework", indicating that the US might now be prepared to be part of a multilateral approach. Against this, he proposed new talks in the autumn outside the UN structures that already exist to negotiate a follow-up agreement to Kyoto. The US is also reluctant to sign up to either a reformed carbon trading scheme or targets for cutting emissions.
Tony Blair has so far received precious little recognition from Mr Bush for his support, most notably over Iraq. And Mr Blair's transparent failure to exert much influence in Washington has damaged his credibility at home. The US President could help his old friend on both counts if he were to help facilitate a climate change agreement at Heiligendamm. He would hand Ms Merkel a triumph, Mr Blair a worthy legacy -- and the world a new belief in joint action to avert this global threat.
The Independant
June 6
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=59400